The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-23
SAYRE AND GREEN SMITH.
The Formers Pungent Response to an In
curry Made by The indianapolis Sentinel.

Hon. Warren g. Sayre, Speaker of the last
House of Representatives, has written the fol-
lowing letter.
ITO the Editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel.
II have just read in your paper of to day tbs
editorial entitled WAS Robertson Sold Out bv
His Friendsr You also invite statements from
members of the Legislature Your assumption
that there is or has been, rivalry between Gov
eruor Robertson and myself for the gubernato-
rial nomination is eratuitous and entirely I'M
true. Governor Robertson. citizen. soldier.
man, lawyer, Republican and candidate has my
confidence aud respect and under his banner, az
a candidate for Governor. l could and would,
with great satisfaction to myself at least, WORK
and fight hard any man can do those things
The interview you assume to quote from Is so
distorted, and there is such a confusion of dates.
and places, and Incidents to make it wholly I'M
true. have never said to any body saat Governor
Robertson present when the compromise
agreement was made or that he knew it be-
ing made, or that he assented to it in any way.
for it would not be true. l have said, and now
say, that Governor Robertson had, the night be-
fore the joint convention was to meet. decided
for himself that he would obey the judgment OF
the Circuit Court, from which he had appealed
and not preside attempt to preside in tho
joint convention; that the compromise agree
ment related solely to the conflicting claims OF
myself and Green Smith to preside. and, if You
will take the pains to read It, or call to mind
what You saw in the joint convention. You will
be convinced that the blatant, bowling Senatof
from Jennings compromised away every right,
and privilege and power as the presiding officer
of that conventions: that he consented, although
claiming the right to preside, to sit as a wall.
flower ornament in the Speakers stand. and
that involved decision. l think it well for
his own sake, for he was, and IS, incompetent to
preside even in a ward meeting.
las to my opposition to the compromise agree
ment, it this and nothing more Whom 1t
read in caucus it occurred to me that our
folks might be afraid would be unable to con-
tend with Green Smith. but on that question l
had no doubt whatever. So / said to the eau
Gus: Gentlemen, don't want this agreement
made, and especially do I protest against its be-
ing made my account l can and will pre-
side IN the convention. All ask is the united
support of the Republican members. the as
surance was given that no such fear existed and
the agreement was adopted. Governor Robert
son was not present, and believe he would not
have approved it had he been there. / assure
you, further, that no man or set OF men con
nected with that Legslature-I mean the law
abiding, decent side of it-ever. in any way,
expressed any want OF confidence in Governor
Robertsons capacity or courage to do any duty
that belonged to him as man or official as
sumo and accept my full share of responsibility
for the compromise agreement
For one reason wish it had not been made.
Without it would have presided alone in that
convention and now know what I then thought.
that your usurper was a miserable. trembling
coward (moral and PHYSICALLY, and would have
required support to get to the Speakers stand.
but none get away from it. I notice he goes
Kentucky and Ohio and poses a young
jackson. To what base uses is an honored
name put. If he had sense enough he would, in
this day of political degeneracy, avoid the name
of jackson. Since the advent of the present
administration Jefferson instead of jackson has
been the patron saint of the Democratic party.
The reason doubtless is that Jefferson, with his
kentucky resolutions, was a secessionist; Jack
son was not. Sect
t.Smiths grandest exploit in the joint conven
ton on the I'd of February, when Robertson
voted for Judge TurpIe. By the agreement
was tie presiding officer. Said Smith then for
the first time announced that he presiding
officer, would &c. l thought that a good
time To denounce hin as a usurper and pretend
err, which / did. expecting the gallant Young
jackson to resent it He contented himself with
saying: That is ali right. Sayre.' Your paper.
the Courier Journal. the Cincinnati Enquirer
and then the local Democratic press claimed that
your hero said: '---- You; stand back. | am
going TO announce this vote. and then you added:
1t is unnecessary to say that Sayre stood back
blow-hard. II was fixed MP for him in the news
papers. and Smith ought to feel grateful to all
OF you. for your report Is grand Improvement
what the doughty hero said. But
by the next morning he had got his
wits together, and over In the Senate, where his
word WAS supreme, and surrounded by his corps
nounce me coward had the merit at least
of telling MIN to his face what had to say. He
said, All right. Sayre, and went off a hundred
yards locked himself in the Senate chamber.
cleared the galleries, and said my conduct
very cowardly. Young Jackson, did you say3
1 have often wondered how your gallant Jackson
announce the result of the vote, and he stood
there dumb with excitement fear. and Web
ster Dixon. about the size of one of Smiths legs,
yelling at him, - it, Green.
nounce the result of the VOTE Ask Dixon about
it. l have doubt he would have made the
grade in much better form than Green did.
'.In conclusion, Mr.. Editor let me assure you
that am not contendlng with anybody for NOM
ination to any Office, but awaiting, liste
impatiently, the coming of the election. for il
will put in Office the Republican nominees in
this State. WARREN G. SAYRE.
''WABAsH, Ind, Nov. 49,"